A Prophetic Blessing

President Monson ended his talk at the Sunday Afternoon Session of General Conference with a prophetic blessing. A Blessing for all of us!

"Now, as we leave this conference, I invoke the blessings of heaven upon each of you. May you who are away from your homes return to them safely. May you ponder the truths you have heard, and may they help you to become even better than you were when conference began two days ago."

Prepare to go to the Temple

In the April 2011 General Conference, President Thomas S. Monson taught:

"If you have been to the temple for yourselves and if you live within
relatively close proximity to a temple, your sacrifice could be setting
aside the time in your busy lives to visit the temple regularly. There
is much to be done in our temples in behalf of those who wait beyond the
veil. As we do the work for them, we will know that we have accomplished
what they cannot do for themselves. President Joseph F. Smith, in a
mighty declaration, stated, "Through our efforts in their behalf their
chains of bondage will fall from them, and the darkness surrounding them
will clear away, that light may shine upon them and they shall hear in
the spirit world of the work that has been done for them by their
children here, and will rejoice with you in your performance of these
duties."President Thomas S. Monson April 2011 General Conference  


My brothers and sisters, the work is ours to do.

In my own family, some of our most sacred and treasured experiences have
occurred when we have joined together in the temple to perform sealing
ordinances for our deceased ancestors.

If you have not yet been to the temple or if you have been but currently
do not qualify for a recommend, there is no more important goal for you
to work toward than being worthy to go to the temple. Your sacrifice may
be bringing your life into compliance with what is required to receive a
recommend, perhaps by forsaking long-held habits which disqualify you.
It may be having the faith and the discipline to pay your tithing.
Whatever it is, qualify to enter the temple of God. Secure a temple
recommend and regard it as a precious possession, for such it is."

I echo President Monson's counsel concerning the temple.  Thank you for
your dedicated service to the Lord.

Best regards,
President Jon Schmitt

May Visiting Teaching Message

Because the May Ensign contain a report of the April general conference, there is not a specifically designated First Presidency Message or Visiting Teaching Message for May. Home and visiting teachers are encouraged to prayerfully select their message from the addresses given during general conference.

Visit the general conference website to read, watch, or listen to conference addresses.

Do you know what the Prophet said in General Conference?

The President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and his two counselors, sustained by millions worldwide as prophets, seers, and revelators, addressed various gospel-oriented topics during the 181^st annual general conference of the Church at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City on April 2-3, 2011. Here are some of the highlights.

President Monson

“My brothers and sisters, I thank you for your faith and devotion to the gospel, for the love and care you show to one another, and for the service you provide in your wards, branches, and stakes and districts,” President Monson said in his opening remarks, recounting the temple and missionary work, as well as humanitarian service, that has been done in the Church over the past few months.

He announced plans to build three new temples in Fort Collins, Colorado; Meridian, Idaho; and Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. This will bring the number of temples announced or under construction to 26 and, once completed, will bring the Church’s worldwide total to 160.

General Conference

To watch, listen to, or read messages from the prophets and apostles, visit the General Conference page on lds.org.

 

President Monson spoke to priesthood holders about their responsibilities, saying, “What will protect you from the sin and evil around you? I maintain that a strong testimony of our Savior and of His gospel will help see you through to safety.”

In his Sunday morning address, he emphasized the importance of temples, declaring, “The saving ordinances received in the temple that permit us to someday return to our Heavenly Father in an eternal family relationship and to be endowed with blessings and power from on high are worth every sacrifice and every effort.”

At the conclusion of the conference, he said, “We face many challenges in the world today, but I assure you that our Heavenly Father is mindful of us. He loves each of us and will bless us as we seek Him through prayer and strive to keep His commandments.”

President Eyring

President Eyring related some of the guiding principles of the welfare program, now 75 years old, saying, “great temporal needs of the children of Heavenly Father have come again in our time as they have and as they will in all times. The principles at the foundation of the Church Welfare Program are not only for one time or one place. They are for all times and all places. Those principles are spiritual and eternal. For that reason, understanding them and putting them down into our hearts will make it possible for us to see and take opportunities to help whenever and wherever the Lord invites us.”

In the priesthood session, he promised priesthood holders that they would be rewarded for their diligence and obedience in the priesthood, saying, “Treasures of spiritual knowledge will be poured out upon you. You will grow in your power to resist evil and to proclaim the truth that leads to salvation. You will find joy in the happiness of those you lead toward exaltation. Your family will become a place of learning.”

A week earlier, addressing a general meeting of the Young Women, the Church’s organization for young women ages of 12-18, President Eyring stressed the need to develop a strong testimony. Telling the young women that they are “the bright hope of the Lord’s church,” he said, “If that belief can become a deep testimony from God, it will shape your daily and hourly choices. And then, from what might appear to you to be small choices, the Lord will lead you to the happiness you want.”

President Uchtdorf

President Uchtdorf advised Church members not to “wait on the road to Damascus” by expecting “some dramatic event to compel them to believe.” Diligent seekers of Christ will eventually find Him as they take small steps of faith that allow them to draw closer to Him. As we do this, we will be given opportunities to share the gospel and to serve others, and these opportunities will, in turn, help us know the Savior. “Let us courageously move forward in faith, hope, and charity, and we will be blessed with the light we are all seeking upon the path of true discipleship.”

In the general priesthood session, he asked priesthood holders if they are living below their privileges regarding the “sacred power, gifts, and blessings” that accompany the responsibility of bearing God’s priesthood. He offered three ways that priesthood holders could live up to their privileges: study the doctrine of the priesthood, seek personal revelation, and find joy in priesthood service. “As bearers of the priesthood, let us never become hardened to the wonder and awe of what the Lord has entrusted to us,” he said.

The First Presidency, along with the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles who serve under their direction, are sustained by millions of Latter-day Saints worldwide as prophets, seers, and revelators who receive inspiration from God to direct the affairs of His Church today. Their messages are intended not only for members of the Church but for all of Heavenly Father’s children throughout the world.

What did the 12 Apostles say in General Conference?

Members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, sustained by millions worldwide as prophets and apostles, addressed various topics during the 181^st annual general conference of the Church at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City on April 2-3, 2011.

President Packer

The President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, President Boyd K. Packer, spoke of what being a Latter-day Saint means, saying, “If someone is looking for a church that requires very little, this is not the one. It is not easy to be a Latter-day Saint, but in the long run it is the only course. Regardless of opposition or ‘wars, rumors of wars, and earthquakes in diverse places,’ no power or influence can stop this work. Every one of us can be guided by the spirit of revelation and the gift of the Holy Ghost.”

General Conference

To watch, listen to, or read messages from the prophets and apostles, visit the General Conference page on lds.org.

 

Elder Perry

Elder L. Tom Perry addressed the role of the Sabbath and the Sacrament in our lives. In regards to these, he said, “there appear to be three things the Lord requires of us. First, to keep ourselves unspotted from the world. Second, to go to the house of prayer and offer up our sacraments. And third, to rest from our labors. . . . Let us remember the blessings and opportunities that are ours as we attend sacrament meeting each week in our wards and branches. Let us prepare to conduct ourselves in a manner that will call down the blessings promised us upon ourselves and our families.”

Elder Nelson

Elder Russell M. Nelson urged us to strengthen our faith and teach it to our children. “Why do we need such resilient faith? Because difficult days are ahead. Rarely in the future will it be easy or popular to be a faithful Latter-day Saint. Each of us will be tested. The Apostle Paul warned that in the latter-days, those who diligently follow the Lord ‘shall suffer persecution.’ That very persecution can either crush you into silent weakness, or motivate you to be more exemplary and courageous in your daily lives.”

Elder Oaks

Elder Dallin H. Oaks said we need to realize what we truly desire and what our priorities are, because our desires ultimately determine who we become and what we receive in eternity. “To achieve our eternal destiny, we will desire and work for the qualities required to become an eternal being. For example, eternal beings forgive all who have wronged them. They put the welfare of others ahead of themselves. And they love all of God’s children. If this seems too difficult—and surely it is not easy for any of us—then we should begin with a desire for such qualities and call upon our loving Heavenly Father for help with our feelings. . . . Let us remember that desires dictate our priorities, priorities shape our choices, and choices determine our actions.”

Elder Ballard

Elder M. Russell Ballard encouraged us to find joy in serving. “Great things are wrought through simple and small things. Like the small flecks of gold that accumulate over time into a large treasure, our small and simple acts of kindness and service will accumulate into a life filled with love for Heavenly Father, devotion to the work of the Lord Jesus Christ, and a sense of peace and joy each time we reach out to one another.”

Elder Scott

Elder Richard G. Scott, addressing the blessings of eternal marriage, said, “It is so rewarding to be married. Marriage is wonderful. In time you begin to think alike and have the same ideas and expressions. You have times when you are extremely happy, times of testing, and times of trial, but the Lord guides you through all of those experiences together. . . . Marriage provides an ideal setting for overcoming any tendency to be selfish or self-centered.”

Elder Hales

Read a message about recognizing and developing spiritual gifts.

Elder Holland

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland reminded us of the divine inspiration involved in both speaking in conference and learning from the messages given. “I ask you to reflect in the days ahead, not only on the messages you have heard here but also on the unique phenomenon that general conference itself is—what we as Latter-day Saints believe such conferences to be and what we invite the world to hear and observe about them. We testify to every nation, kindred, tongue and people that God not only lives, but that He speaks. That for our time and in our day the counsel you have heard is, under the direction of the Holy Spirit, ‘the will of the Lord, . . . the word of the Lord, . . . the voice of the Lord, and the power of God unto salvation.’”

Elder Bednar

Elder David A. Bednar offered insights on the spirit of revelation and the patterns of receiving revelation, saying, “As you appropriately seek for and apply unto the spirit of revelation, I promise you will ‘walk in the light of the Lord.’ Sometimes the spirit of revelation will operate immediately and intensely, other times subtly and gradually, and often so delicately you may not even consciously recognize it. But regardless of the pattern whereby this blessing is received, the light it provides will illuminate and enlarge your soul, enlighten your understanding, and direct and protect you and your family.”

Elder Cook

Elder Quentin L. Cook expressed appreciation for the women of the Church, saying, “Our women are not incredible because they have managed to avoid the difficulties of life—quite the opposite. They are incredible because of the way they face the trials of life. Despite the challenges and tests life has to offer from marriage or lack of marriage, children’s choices, poor health, lack of opportunities, and many other problems, they remain remarkably strong and immovable and true to the faith. Our sisters throughout the Church consistently succor the weak, lift up the hands which hang down, and strengthen the feeble knees.”

Elder Christofferson

Elder D. Todd Christofferson addressed our need to accept and even seek correction, saying, “Correction is vital if we would conform our lives ‘unto a perfect man, [that is], unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.’ Paul said of divine correction or chastening, ‘For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth.’ Though it is often difficult to endure, truly, we ought to rejoice that God considers us worth the time and trouble to correct.”

Elder Andersen

Elder Neil L. Andersen directed his remarks to the 12- to 25-year-old priesthood holders of the Church. “Have you ever thought about why you have been sent to earth at this specific time? You were not born during the time of Adam and Eve, or while Pharaohs ruled Egypt, or during the Ming Dynasty. You have come to earth at this time twenty centuries after the first coming of Christ. The priesthood of God has been restored to the earth, and the Lord has set His hand to prepare the world for His glorious return. These are days of great opportunities and important responsibilities. These are your days.”

The Quorum of the Twelve Apostles are sustained by millions of Latter-day Saints worldwide as prophets, seers, and revelators, who receive inspiration from God to direct the affairs of His Church today. They serve under the direction of the First Presidency, which consists of the President of the Church and his two counselors. Their messages are intended not only for members of the Church but for all of Heavenly Father’s children throughout the world.

Making General Conference More Meaningful

This is an article from Mormon Times section of the Deseret News

Written by Emily W. Jensen

There are some great links for activities for children... and adults... for General Conference.

"Can you feel the buzz in the air? The excitement for the upcoming general conference is becoming almost palpable as members throughout the world prepare their minds and hearts to hear messages from our leaders. Online members similarly start buzzing about general conference weeks in advance, passing links and ideas for making it more meaningful.

I would be remiss to not first send you to the LDS general conference page found at conference.lds.org. You’ll notice that it has activities for children, teachings of the prophets and, if you click the little scroll arrow down below the main photo, you’ll find “My Study Notebook,” an online destination for keeping notes of your favorite messages that you really should discover. (This is my favorite. I especially like the coloring section. Maybe I need to print one off for myself!)

A few years ago, the bloggers at MormonMomma.com got together to compile their favorite ways for “Making General Conference Memorable.” Here are a few of their amazing ideas:

Law of witnesses

“On the Monday before conference we have a family home evening about “a watchman on the tower” and challenge our children that week to do three things:

Pray for those who will be speaking that the Spirit will guide them. Pray that you will have the Spirit and that questions or challenges you have in your life will be addressed. Look for threes. We always look for subjects in threes and talk about how that particular principle must be important enough that it was spoken of three times. We have in the past let our children know that subjects are not assigned to speakers; they are to follow the Spirit when preparing talks for conference, so it is interesting to find three repetitions.

Not-so-trivial pursuit

"I take careful notes during each session of conference and then create questions using my notes. On Sunday afternoons we split up into teams and see who can answer the most questions. The winning team gets a prize. This encourages the kids to take good notes and it gets us all to review what we learned!”

Click in to find many more ideas on how to prepare for, listen to and then apply the lessons learned from general conference.

I personally believe that the blogs are the best place to go for ideas about keeping children in a reverent, receptive mood during conference. Rachel Bruner, of LDS.about.com, continually updates her link list of “General Conference Activities for Children” that includes printable bingo games, notebooks and booklets to keep little ones quiet and content."

Sunday School Lesson Story

Wendy read a wonderful story today in our Sunday School class. It is from a talk given by John R. Lasater in April 1988 General Conference called "Shepherds of Israel".

"Some years ago, it was my privilege to visit the country of Morocco as part of an official United States government delegation. As part of that visit, we were invited to travel some distance into the desert to visit some ruins. Five large black limousines moved across the beautiful Moroccan countryside at considerable speed. I was riding in the third limousine, which had lagged some distance behind the second. As we topped the brow of a hill, we noticed that the limousine in front of us had pulled off to the side of the road. As we drew nearer, I sensed that an accident had occurred and suggested to my driver that we stop. The scene before us has remained with me for these many years.

An old shepherd, in the long, flowing robes of the Savior’s day, was standing near the limousine in conversation with the driver. Nearby, I noted a small flock of sheep numbering not more than fifteen or twenty. An accident had occurred. The king’s vehicle had struck and injured one of the sheep belonging to the old shepherd. The driver of the vehicle was explaining to him the law of the land. Because the king’s vehicle had injured one of the sheep belonging to the old shepherd, he was now entitled to one hundred times its value at maturity. However, under the same law, the injured sheep must be slain and the meat divided among the people. My interpreter hastily added, “But the old shepherd will not accept the money. They never do.”

Startled, I asked him why. And he added, “Because of the love he has for each of his sheep.” It was then that I noticed the old shepherd reach down, lift the injured lamb in his arms, and place it in a large pouch on the front of his robe. He kept stroking its head, repeating the same word over and over again. When I asked the meaning of the word, I was informed, “Oh, he is calling it by name. All of his sheep have a name, for he is their shepherd, and the good shepherds know each one of their sheep by name.”

It was as my driver predicted. The money was refused, and the old shepherd with his small flock of sheep, with the injured one tucked safely in the pouch on his robe, disappeared into the beautiful deserts of Morocco.

As we continued our journey toward the ruins, my interpreter shared with me more of the traditions and practices of the shepherds of that land. Each evening at sundown, for example, the shepherds bring their small flocks of sheep to a common enclosure where they are secured against the wolves that roam the deserts of Morocco. A single shepherd then is employed to guard the gate until morning. Then the shepherds come to the enclosure one by one, enter therein, and call forth their sheep—by name. The sheep will not hearken unto the voice of a stranger but will leave the enclosure only in the care of their true shepherd, confident and secure because the shepherd knows their names and they know his voice."

"The words of the Master Shepherd rang loudly in my ears:

“But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.

“To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.

“And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.

“And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers” (John 10:2–5)."

General Conference Cinnamon Rolls

This is from an article in Mormon Times, as section of the Deseret News. Since it is General Conference Sunday, I thought that you needed the recipe. Too bad that I didn't see it earlier in the week! Sorry! (Robin)

A lady in Orem makes these for the Apostles every conference! Start the night before because the first part needs to refrigerate overnight then in the morning you make them into the rolls & put in dish to rise for about 2 hours. Baking is mere minutes.

2 pkg dry yeast
1/4 C warm water
2/3 C instant (dry) milk
1 3/4 C hot water
3/4 C melted butter or margarine
add
1/2 C sugar
2 t salt
(let mixture cool)
5 1/2 C flour (start with 2 then add the rest)
4 well beaten eggs

Layer ingredients: (Double the recipe on this part if you like extra goop)
1/2 C melted butter
2 T cinnamon
6 T sugar

Frosting: (or sub cream cheese frosting, but this is the general conference version)
4 C powdered sugar
1/2 C soft butter
2 t vanilla & water

Put yeast in the 1/4 C warm water. Combine instant milk, the hot water and 3/4 C melted butter. Add sugar and salt; let mixture cool. Blend in 2 C flour then add yeast and eggs. Stir in rest of flour. Dough will be soft.

Cover and refrigerate overnight.

Turn 1/2 out on well floured surface (coat with flour to handle). Roll out into rectangle. Spread with the layer ingredients: first butter then sugar and finally cinnamon add raisins/nuts at this point if desired. Roll up and cut slices with clean dental floss (put floss underneath then criss-cross upwards to make a clean slice without squishing). Put in baking dish/pan.
Raise 1 1/2 – 2 hours.
Bake at 400 degrees for 10 minutes (watch that they don't burn).

Frost while warm.

Preparing for General Conference

This article is from the Deseret News Mormon Times section. There are some great ideas for connecting to General Conference and helps to get your children involved. There is something there for everyone! 

By Emily W. Jensen

28 September 2010

The blogs are giving you no excuse not to prepare for this weekend’s general conference. I cannot believe how many resources that are up already! Plus as technology advances, it’s becoming easier to participate in general conference via the online world. So read on to find out where to access conference and how to best prepare.

The LDS Church has a new and improved General Conference website that I would be remiss not to mention first. Find ways to listen and watch in real-time, read previous talks and check out the awesome Conference Games for children.

LDS Media Talk additionally explains “How to Experience October 2010 LDS General Conference” and describes how this new site includes “sharing, personalized study, and improved navigation. You can use the My Study Notebook to annotate, tag, and highlight conference talks and save them in your personal folder that is accessible only by you through your LDS Account.” It also details when and where to find the talks and language translations as they become available. And it outlines how the above mentioned Conference Games for children includes the following:

A General Conference Notebook for children to write or draw about conference. The notebook is available in Chinese, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish through the respective language materials pages.

Conference Squares, consisting of seven cards that encourage children to listen carefully, and when a speaker talks about one of the topics on the card, cover that square.

A conference coloring page.

Prophets and Apostles online matching game.

Latter-day Prophets online matching game.

Fun!

In “General Conference Preparation, Mormon Mommy Style” this blogger provides even more links to resources, including printable packets and articles about listening to the prophets. Plus she explains “I love General Conference, espec ially when I prepare for it. I get answers to questions I've prayed about, and even receive insight into questions I haven't asked, but the Lord knows I have. General Conference recharges my spiritual batteries.” Nice.

Similarly, this blogger declares that general conference “is one of my favorite weekends of the year! I just love the peaceful feeling I get as I have the opportunity to listen to prophets and apostles. What an absolute blessing to have modern day revelation! However, with a 1 year old and a 3 year old, a little advance preparation is an absolute must if I’m hoping to get anything out of the messages shared!” So in this post, this she outlines her“General Conference Preparedness” steps, including a darling idea of putting up a “tent in the family room (the girls called it their cave) with toys, snacks, and activities in it for the girls to help them entertain themselves a little better.” Plus she includes her own version of a Conference packet. Click to download.

But if you still haven’t found the perfect printable conference activities, then here’s a few more: the “Deseret Book Conference Packet” and a “General Conference (Pumpkin) Activity” from A Little Tipsy (and make sure to scroll down to find other activity ideas).

Now let’s confer more about this last week in the Bloggernacle:

Power pick: The Mormon YouTube Channel just uploaded the General Relief Society Meeting videos from Saturday on the General Conference playlist. Click to watch (or re-watch). And while you’re there, further prepare for general conference by listening to some of your favorite past addresses. Can you even remember what it was like to wait for videos to go to the distribution center? I love the power of online communication!

Mission Prep: Missionaries are also preparing to listen to general conference. One missionary in the MTCexcitedly declares, “Guess what I get to do....that is right sing in conference for the priesthood session!!!!!!!!!” And this missionary describes what it’s like being on Temple Square at conference time: “Can you believe how fast time flies?? It's already almost October. And you know what that means!!!! GENERAL CONFERENCE!!!! It's going to be an amazing conference this year, I can just feel it! And we're gonna see SOOO many people come. I can't wait! We only get to see one session of conference (SO SAD!) but it's ok because the rest of the time we will be uplifting members and encouraging them to do missionary work and spread this wonderful gospel!”

Techie tip(s): I love to participate in general conference in real-time with my fellow online travelers via blog comments and twitter feeds. And if you want to tweet about conference use the hashtag #ldsconf. LDS Media Talk also describes how to follow the official LDS Church Twitter account for general conference. It’stwitter.com/ldsgencon and is geared to provide “quotes from conference on a routine basis after the conference has concluded, but not during the conference.” Click and follow!

Emily W. Jensen updates “Today in the Bloggernacle”
every weekday, presenting the best of what we've seen
from the world of LDS-oriented blog sites. Her extended
 “Bloggernacle Back Bench” appears on
 MormonTimes.com on Tuesdays.